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(LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.? 

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I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. J 



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THE 



City of Plague 



AND 



BY 



JOHN R. BARLOW, 



« * 



AUTHOR OF " JOHN'S TRIP, OR A VISIT TO NIAGARA," 
"THK THREE DEGREES," <£C. 



.-5 l^Vi J i .; ... i ; 



NIAGARA FALLS : 4 
WILLIAM POOL, FJE\IKTEI\, 

GAZETTE BUILDING. 

1873. 



fS\ 



-frtf\ 



C-S 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the ye ar 1873. 

By JOHN R. BARLOW, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



To 

L. C. BLXAL, 

of Chicago. 

Dear Old Time Friend : 

My Boyhood's Pride ! 

Companion of youthful glee! 
"While memory dwells' mid scenes of yore, 

My heart goes back to thee ; 
And youthful hours, when innocence 

Bui eel every thought and word, 
Come to my heart and make it beat, 

As when in youth it stirred 
In throbbing answer to the tones 

Of Friendship, Love and Truth; 
Oh, happy hours ! oh, joyous scenes ! 

Oh, grand, immortal youth ! 
Y ar after year may come and go, 

As wave on wave doth swell. 
But memory like an undertow, 
Brings back youth's scenes with brighter glow, 

Those scenes we love so well. 
The Sea of Life, like any sea 

By storm is often tossed, 



And many barks in sunshine launchel. 

Are in the tempest lust; 
But von and I have made our way 

Through weather fair and foul, 
For though we've seen Dame Fortune smile, 

We've also seen her scowl; 
She's played us many a doleful prank, « 

Yet, still, we sail Life's sea; 
You've reached a calm and sunny clime, 

While storms encircle me; 
But Fortune's winds may make a shift, 

Or something turn the tide, 
And you may be surprised some day 

To see me at your side; 
Till then, accept this tribute, which 

An humble Poet pays. 
To Thee, the chief of youthful friends, 
To happy scenes of olden times 

And joys of other days ! 

John R. Baelow. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

THE CITY OF PLAGUE, 9 

THE LAND BEYOND THE TIDE, - - - 39 
DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR AND BIRTH OF THE NEW, 44 
WILL YOU MEET ME UP IN HEAVEN, MOTHER DEAR? 47 

OH WHERE HAVE THE ROSES ALL GONE? - - 50 

THE NEW LOVE, 52 

THE CLOSING OF THE DAY, 55 

DOWN THE AISLES OF TIME, - - - 56 

WHY THE BABY DIED, - - - 58 

BREAKING THE ENGAGEMENT, - - 59 

THE DAWN OF THE NEW LIFE, - - 61 

FROST PICTURES, 62 

SUNBEAMS, - - - - 64 

IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND, - - 65 

ONLY A LITTLE BRAID, - - 67 

A LOVER'S GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT, - 68 

A NOVEMBER STORM, - - - 71 

LIFE'S HILL, - - - 74 

YOU'LL EVER BE YOUNG TO ME, - - 76 

DEARER TO ME, - - - 79 

LAMENT OF THE SAILOR'S BRIDE, - 81 

O'ER BEYOND THE SHINING RIVER, 83 

YES, OR NO? - - - 85 

LOVE— SCORN— DESPAIR, - - -87 

ON THE RIVER, 90 

THE MUSIC OF THE HEART, - 93 

LIFE'S WARP AND WOOF, 95 

THE HEART'S ANGUISH, - 97 



THE 

CITY OF PLAGUE. 



THE CIT? OF PLAGUE, 



-and all was black, 



The brows of men, by their despairing light, 

Wore an unearthly aspect, as by fits, 

The flushes fell upon them. Some lay down, 

And hid their eyes, and wept; and some did rest 

Their chins upon their clenched hands, and smiled: 

And others hurried to and fro, and fed 

The funeral pile with fuel, and looked up, 

With mad disquietude, on the dull sky, 

The pall of a past world: and then again 

With curses, cast them down upon the dust, 

And gnashed their teeth, and howled. 

— Bykok. 



In a valley where the season 

Seemed forever summer time, 
And the bright and golden distance 

Showed a gorgeous tropic clime, 
Where a river downward rippling, 

With its murmur soft and low, 
Filled the air with mellow music, 

While the zephers to and fro. 
Wafted waves of sound melodeous, 

As the wavelets rose and fell, 
O'er the silver corded beaches, 

Gemmed with pebble a,nd with shelL 



10 



Hose a city in that valley, 

Where from dawn till dewy eve f 
From the rising to the setting, 

Did the sun his glory weave ; 
Ne'er was fairer city builded 

Than that city of the vale, 
Nestling to the grassy bordeis 

"Where the river did assail, 
Back itnto the graded terrace 

Which the mountains overhung, 
Where the echoes, once awakened, 

With a thousand voices rung. 



Dwelt there in that city beauteous, 

Mortals of a haughty mien, 
Proud of birth and grand possessions. 

Worldly wise and worldly vain ; 
With the outer world no converse 

Would these haughty mortals hold, 
Counted they themselves more worthy, 

Deigning not to be controlled ; 
Deeming that themselves, self governed, 

Won such glory and renown, 
As should sound through all the ages 

Through all time forever down. 



11 



And they built around their city, 

On the East, and North and West, 
From the sun's bright place of rising, 

Westward, to his place of rest, 
Only on the South their city 

Had no wall upbuilded high. 
There the river onward gliding 

Gently flowed forever by ; 
And its waters, pure, pellucid, 

Like some victor's burnished shield, 
All the city in its brightness, 

As a mirror grand revealed. 



And two gates of gorgeous splendor, 

Brazen built and grand of strength, 
At the East and West they builded 

Thus to mark the city's length, 
TIj en they gathered ail in council 

A*id gave forth this one decree ; 
That from other lands and rulers 

They should be forever free ; 
Seeking succor from no nation, 

Giving help unto no land, 
Keeping free and in their freedom 

They forevermore should stand; 



12 



On the hillsides sheep they pastured, 

In the valley grain they grew, 
And their mills were ever driven 

By the river running through ; 
Rich they grew, and growing richer 

They forgot their rightful God, 
Counted every call to duty 

As a seeming tyrant's rod, 
And they grew to be ungodly, 

Called Religion, " Idle tale :" 
Till Charity, at last forgotten, 

"Was unknown within the vale, 



Yet, withal, they seemed to prosper 

More than other cities round, 
For within their walls of splendor, 

Plenty, only, could be found ; 
While a Famine came and wasted 

All the cities lying near, 
Yet their granaries were bursting 

With the surplus of the year, 
And they laughed to scorn the wretches 

Who without each mighty gate, 
Cried for bread to ease their hunger,. 

Begging piteous, ear 7 and late. 



13 



Night and morning, from the dawning 

To the waning of the light, 
From the deep'ning of the shadows.] 

Through the watches of the night, 
Morn and even, noon and midnight, 

Round that city in the vale, 
From a thousand starving mortals 

Came that ceaseless piteous wail : 
■' Give us bread !" ki Oh from the fulness 

AYhich the Lord hath given you, 
Grant a mite to fellow mortals 

Let us not thus vainly sue." 



But within that gorgeous city, 

On the ear and to the eye, 
All unnoticed stood the wretches, 

All unheeded fell their cry ; 
As in light of lavish splendor 

Rolled the careless, heartless throng, 
While the hand ot Heaven, unmindful, 

Seemed to be withheld too long ; 
And as louder and more mournful 

On each new succeeding morn 
Grew the wail without the city, 

Deep and deeper grew their scorn* 



u 



And the gates were closed and guarded. 

While along the river side, 
There their sentinels were posted, 

So that every one who tried 
For an entrance to the city 

Might be caught and quick expelled, 
Thus the throng of starving creatures 

In their misery were held 
From the fortune favored mortals 

All aloof, while in their pride, 
All the woes of those around tnem 

They did mock at and deride, 



But a Prophet rose among them, 

One, a man of heart and age, 
"Who through all the streets lamented 

Near approaching heaven's rage: 
*' O ye dwellers in this city 

Fairer than ere erst was known, 
Think ye not that cries and prayers 

Reacheth up to Heaven's throne ? 
And that multitude of wailers, 

Who without your city walls, 
Cry for bread, and retribution, 

Shall in vain repeat their calls? " 



J 5 



" Thrust him out ! " a thousand voices 

Cry in mingled rage and scorn, 
" Let his wailings up to heaven, 

With the other wails lie borne. " 
And without those gates of beauty, 

He was quickly seized and thrust, 
And no friend advanced to save him, 

]STor was offered him a crust : 
And he cried, while yet the hinges 

Creaked the closing of the gate, 
" Curst above all cursed cities. 

Ye but hasten on your fate. " 



And without that guarded city, 

Cruel Hunger, gaunt and lean, 
Traced his lines upon each feature, 

In each shrunken form was seen. 
Friend from friend, would turn in anguish, 

Seeking each his pain to hide, 
Till the darkness hid each feature, 

Then they sat down side by side. 
Side by side, and hand hand clasping, 

Through the long, lone hours of night 
Till the shadows woke and vanished, 

At the call of morning light. 



16 



But from 'mong each group of watchers, 

At the waking of one morn, 
Sadder, deeper and more mournful, 

Were the wails of anguish borne. 
All before their guest was hunger, 

Only hunger and no more, 
But another now they numbered, 

Which they had not known before ; 
Death had spread his poisoned pinions* 

And where friends at eve had lain, 
Lay but corses, thin and shrunken, 

That should never wake again. 



And the sound of lamentation 

Rose upon the morning air, 
And their hunger seemed forgotten 

While beside their loved ones there, 
Knelt the living, weeping, wailing, 

And the air, their cries did fill, 
Till at "evning round the corses, 

Sat the living, sad and still. 
For they knew not ere the morning. 

With Death's shadows overhead, 
Who of them would leave the living, 

Who of them would watch the dead. 



17 



And, as morning light appearing 

Eaised the vail of gloomy night, 
Saw the watchers, other loved ones 

Had departed with the night; 
Thus continuing, each morning 

Saw the mourners fewer grown, 
While the valley with the mourned for 

Was each morn more thickly strewn, 
And the air became more loathsome, 

More and more as daj^s wore. on, 
For the corses all unburied 

Lay beneath the burning sun. 



' Neath the sun they lay and blackened, 

And each mourner, hunger's slave, 
Only mourned the more because he 

Had not strength to dig a grave ; 
Thus they lay, no strength, no motion, 

^J in g> dying, day by day, 
While the corses still increasing 

'Neath the sun did more decay; 
Till at length the air becoming 

Charged as with a mist of death, 
All remaining soon were stricken, 

Breathing death with every breath. 



18- 



Till a murmur ran among them 

Indistinct at first and vague, 
Then a cry, wild, deep and mournful, 

"We are doomed it is the Plague ! 
Then arose the Prophet trembling, 

As his limbs beneath him tail, 
And his bony finger pointing 

T'ward the City of the vale, 
Thus he cried: "Oh, City scornful ! 

God with you doth now engage; 
Thou art doomed, and I, your victim,- 

Shall be bearer of his rage I" 



"Up P he cried to those around him, 

"Up ! I give you God's command," 
"Fear ye not your streDgth shall fail you 

When upheld by his strong hand; 
Look upon yon gorgeous City, 

Bright above it are the skies; 
Dwell therein the proud, hard hearted » 

Who have heeded not your cries; 
But I tell and tell you truly, 

All their grandeur shall decline, 
We are instruments of justice, 

Vengeance saith the Lord is mine l" 



19 



*' See yon gate of strength upbuflded, 

Doubly guarded night and day ; 
See yon river grandly flowing, 

There their sentries guard the way ; 
See yon beetling cliffs o'erhanging 

On the north the city's rear ; 
Guarded thus, how proud their bearing, 

Thinking they have nought to fear ; 
But they heed not in their folly 

That a road doth open lie 
To the heart of their fair city 

Where who meeteth us shall die," 



" Up yon steep and jagged mountain, 

Down from thence a winding path, 
Once that road were traveled, all their 

Power cannot stay God's wrath ; 
In our veins the dreaded Plague tide 

Courses wilder every hour, 
And when once we gain their city 

Futile all their boasted power ; 
For we carry death within us, 

Every breath exhaled shall bear 
Death and mourning to each hearthstone, 

Plague and horror in the air. 



20 



Though 'Plague stricken, two arising, 

With the Prophet upward go ; 
Though their breath comes faint and fainter, 

And their steps are weak and slow ; 
Up the rugged mountain scaling. 

Upward, westward till they stand 
Just above that fated city, 

In the sunlight bright and grand ; 
And the waves of mellow sunshine 

Gild each casement with their glow. 
Bathing in a golden glory 

All the guarded wealth below. 



Spake then one of the Plague stricken i 

" On such beauty and such wealth. 
On this city where they know not 

But of happiness and health. 
Is it right that we should bring them. 

Unsuspecting every ill, 
Death, disease and dire destruction, 

Every home with woe to fill ? 
Think ye, were it not far better 

That this mission we forego ? 
Tis but death if here we linger : 

9 Twill be death as well below." 



" Oh ! ye vacillating mortal, 

Oil ! ye form with puerile heart, 
Dost thou dare to chicle Jehovah? 

In His vengeance to take part 
Wouldst thou dare refuse? What melting 

Of their hearts was there for thee? 
Wherefore, thus their scorn forgiving, 

Shouldst thou from thy duty flee ? 
Onward ! downward ! death ! destruction ! 

Bearing as we pass along, 
Thus repaying all their scorning, 

Thus returning all the wrong !" 



Then adown that mountain pathway. 

Slowly with a trembling pace, 
Through the streets of wealth and grandeur 

Till they gained the Market Place; 
And as onward, never turning, 

They their weary way pursue, 
Halt the 'habitants in wonder, 

Asking each if these they knew? 
But to none of all that city 

Are the dying strangers known, 
As they press to end their journey, 

While each step brings forth a groan. 



99 



4i Ho, ye strangers to the city ! 

Whence, and wherefore are ye come ?" 
'* Do ye come from up the valley ?" 

" Wherefore silent ? Are ye dumb ? 
But the strangers never heeding, 

Still unanswering, wend their way ; 
To the right or left not turning, 

Heeding not what passers say ; 
" Hold 1" cried one, " I know their leader, 

'Tis the Prophet who arose, 
Dooming us to beggars' curses 

If we heeded not their woes." 



" Are the gates not closely guarded ? 

And the river side as well ? 
How then, could they gain the city 

Here their cries of woe to swell !" 
"See ! they reach the city's centre, 

There they halt and take their stand, 
Fearful trio, thin and shrunken, 

Grasps each bloodless hand a hand," 
" Oh ye wand'rers lean and lanken 

Have ye come from 'mongthe dead?" 
" List ! ye scorners, cease your scoffing, 

We are beggars come for bread !" 



23 



"What? beggars in our city? 

Beggars from the vale, 
Where daily, without ceasing 

They tire us with their wail V y 
" Was't o'er our walls so mighty, 

Or through our gates so strong, 
Or by the river's border 

Ye made your way along ?" 
Neither walls nor gates nor river 

Our entrance here hath shared, 
"We entered here at God's command, 

The way by God prepared." 



Then through the streets and by-ways 

These words all do proclaim, 
" Lo ! in our Mart stand beggars 

To mock us with their shame !" 
And the rich and lordly masters 

Of the city, passing by, 
Laugh in scorn and shun the wretches 

And taunt them while they cry 
" Oh ! Prophet; in your hunger, 

Where now your boasted power? 
Where now the God you vaunted 

Could crush us in an hour ?" 



24 



Thus they taunt with scorn and laughter, 

While the beggars on the pave, 
Feel the stones their dying couches, 

The city's fate their grave ; 
See the mighty of the city 

Unheeding pass them by, 
While within great plenty's circle 

They lay them down to die ; 
See the daughter of a million 

Gather closer up her dress, 
Lest the garment touch the pavement 

Which a beggar's foot doth press. 



Thus the day at last is ended, 

The night wears on apace, 
And morning finds them standing 

Still within the Market Place. 
" What ! ho ! ye guards on duty ! 

Who keep the city's gates, 
Thrust forth these noisome beggars, 

Their fate without awaits ; 
Behold those vultures circling 

O'er the valley far away, 
Thrust out this making carrion 

And give the birds their prey I" 



"23 



•" Thrust out this making carrion ? 

Yea, thrust it out who will ; 
'Those vultures o'er the valley 

Will w r ait yet longer still." 
Thus spoke the Prophet, while the fire 

Of vengeance in his eye, 
Filled those with dread who round him stood 

To see him sink and die. 
And thus again he spoke to them : 

" Oh ! mortals, cease to scorn, 
A weight of woe is on you such 

As ne'er before was borne?" 



"God blessed and gave this city 

A plenty over all, 
Yet when he asked a tithing 

Ye heeded not his call; 
Without your gates, his people 

Lie dying day by day, 
"What penitence of empty wordsj 

Can wipe this sin away ? 
JBut penitence ye have not known, 

Nor do ye know it yet; 
The daily woe around you has 

Your hearts but harder set." 



26 



"Then hear the doom Jehovah sends; 

For all your taunts and scorn, 
Your city of its glory shall 

Forever more be shorn ; 
I spoke to you the warning words, 

Ye heeded not my cry. 
But with the ones for whom I plead 

Ye thrust me out to die; 
And now God sends the words of doom 

By him who warning gave, 
This city was my cradle, and 

Her dust shall be my grave !" 



"Your piles of monumental wealthy 

Your mansions old and new, 
Whose burnished casements in the sun 

Beam brightly to the view, 
The gates you set to guard your wealthy 

Your walls as grand and high, 
Shall be your curse, for from the vale 

Through them you may not fly; 
The gates by power than yours more great 

Are barred, nor oped shall be; 
The Walls shall be as glass to those 

Who by their way would flee**' 



27 



"The river, where your sentries' tread 

Is echoed night and day, 
Shall be to you a boiling lake 

To bar your outward way; 
The mountain wall which God hath set 

To guard your city's rear 
Shall fill your hearts with deepest dread, 

And whelm your souls with fear ; 
Those mighty crags by time unmoved 

Your fleeing steps assail, 
And from yon frowning brow shall sweep 

A tide of molten hail," 



" Ye think my words are idle, all, 

And vain as empty air, 
Then learn that every word is truth, 

God's vengeance I but share ; 
Behold these wretches at my feet, 

Ye think they lie asleep, 
Yea, so they do, but not on earth 

Shall end repose so deep ; 
They sleep in death ; oh, endless sleep ! 

ISTo power death's tide can stem ; 
Come gaze on death, and learn to die, 

Ye soon shall sleep with them," 



28 



4< See how each feature hath teen racked 

With throes of agony, 
Come, look, for in your veins doth roll 

The curse which here you see ; 
See how they blacken in the sun, 

Behold the fever here, 
Within my veins the doom-tide runs, 

Ye start ? 'Tis late for fear ! 
"Then know." and here his voice sank low. 

" ~No more my words be vague ; 
My hour hath come, I leave with you. 

My curse, the Eastern Plague !" 



Sank his voice down to a whisper, 

And his eyes grew glassy dim, 
And, upon the pave down sinking, 

Death came welcome unto him ; 
Then throughout the throng around him 

Ran a thrill of mortal fear, 
Face with dread on each face gazing r 

Saw the curse imprinted there ; 
Each from each in horror turning 

Seeks his home in haste to gain ; 
All too slow their quickened footsteps r 

L;i*o the":" 'ear, th^ir ha^tc in vain. 



29 



As the course of streams in spring time 

Are increased by melting snow, 
So the tide of life in fever 

Through the veins doth swifter flow; 
As the streams already swollen, 

By new streams are further swelled. 
So the blood already fevered 

By the Plague is more impelled; 
Swift and wild, and wilder, swifter, 

More increasing every hour, 
Till the heart at last consuming 

Sinks beneath the lava power. 



Thus within that guarded city, 

Ran the life tide faster now, 
While the fever gaining fullness 

Stamped its impress on each brow; 
Doors w T ere barred and casements bolted, 

Every street deserted, drear, 
While the air seemed all down laden 

With a w r eight of deadly fear; 
While within each habitation 

Echoed every wall the cry, 
"'Tis the hand of retribution, 

We are smitten, and we die I" 



30 



And when night with sable mantle 

Shrouds the city with her gloom, 
Every household seems enfolded 

.By a pall of rayless doom; 
Every light burns dim and dismal, 

Struggling with the vaprous air, 
Oh, for morning ! oh, for sunlight ! 

Every heart repeats the prayer; 
Sunken eyes on loved ones gazing 

Meets but with a wilder stare, 
Burning hands press fevered foreheads, 

Horror, horror every where ! 



Night die? ! oh, death of dreary stillness ! 

Morn wakes ! oh, birth of darkness born ! 
Better for night's death eternal, 

Than the birth of such a morn; 
Slowly, as if loath, the darkness 

From the coast of morning rolls, 
But no sunbeams with their brightness 

Chase the phantoms from the souls; 
Dull the sky, a leaden dullness, 

Copper tinted here and there, 
As. at sea, a fire far distant, 

Horror, horror everywhere ! 



31 



O'er the valley to the Eastward 

Rolls the mist of morn away; 
O'er the valley to the Westward 

Wakes the morn to beauteous day; 
On the mountain top appearing 

Sport the sunbeams bright and clear; 
O'er the plain beyond the river 

Breaks the day without a tear; 
Only o'er that fated city 

Are the shadows overthrown, 
All around, the day is brightness, 

Horror, horror there alone ! 



Slowly downward from the mountain, 

Settling like a funeral pail, 
Rolls a cloud of noisome vapor. 

Gathering dampness overall; 
From the side of every mansion, 

From each stone in every wall, 
As if born of silent weeping, 

Slow the vaprous teardrops fall; 
And the air grows close and stifling, 

And each casement open thrown, 
Lets the vaprous horror enter, 

Horror, horror there alone. 



32 



Kow a wail of deepest anguish 

To each ear the dampness bears, 
Death hath made his formal entry 

And the first his mantle wears; 
Toll the bells ! the first hath answered 

To the Prophet's dying curse; 
Dig the grave ! no time for mourning ! 

Haste -and call the burial hearse; 
Toll again ! another answers ! 

Ere its echoes die away, 
Still another, and another, 

Ceaseless tolling all the day. 



[Now once more the darkness falli'ig 

Ends the day, but not its woes, 
Sombre arch ! Unbroken darkness ! 

~No respite and no repose. 
Death holds now unhindered revel, 

Soft his footsteps tread the gloom; 
While his fingers touch the loreheads 

And his victims feel their doom; 
On the morrow, cease the tolling, 

'Tis a vain and useless task. 
Death hath need of no revealing, 

He hath lain aside his mask. 



33 



TTween the darkness of the midnight 

And the gloom of middle day, 
Scarce they judge, for but a twilight 

Bears the awful arch away ; 
But through every street and by way 

Falls the bearers' ominous tread, 
While o'er all the mighty wailing 

Sounds the cry, " Bring forth your dead I" 
Oh the depth of untold horror 

In that dread appalling sound, 
Is there no escape, no succor ? 

Can there no release be found! 



Fire ! build fires tlireugljout the city ! 

Where'er street crosses street, 
There let the bright red fire flame 

The Death Plague current meeU 
liaise high the sparkling altars, 

Nor distance long between, 
Till in a fire gilt border 

.Returning life is seen ; 
Till from our beauteous city 

The death cloud rolls away, 
And from our night of horror 

Breaks forth a brighter day. 



34 



Then to light the flames the} hasten, 

That the Fire Fiend, — who in wrath 
Knows no master — should in triumph 

Sweep the Plague Fiend from their path; 
And as up the flames ascending 

Bears the vaprous cloud away, 
They shout deliverance and triumph 

From and o'er the Plague Fiend's sway ; 
And still in their mad excitement 

Raise the altars higher still, 
Till a mighty flame of triumph 

Doth the whole great city fill. 



But their triumph turns to sorrow 

And their joy soon turns to woe, 
For the power they call to save them 

Doth now no master know ; 
And the bright flames sweeping higher 

Light the mansions dull and grey 
And the Fire Fiend in his hunger, 

Claims the city as his prey, 
And the 'habitants in anguish 

This new ruin doth foresee, 
And from out their fire doomed city 

They quickly turn to flee. 



35 



To the gate they wildly hasten, 

But the bars are doubly sure, 
They have melted in their sockets, 

Are immovably secure. 
Then they bring their scaling ladders, 

O'er the walls to make their way, 
But their efforts all are futile. 

For the Fire Fiend holdeth sway ; 
O'er those walls of seamless cement 

He hath caused the flame to pass, 
And where erst had stood their ladders 

Is a front of glist'ning glass. 



Then they haste to gain the river, 

But from it they quick recoil; 
For the flame hath lapped its border, 

And its waters seethe and boil ; 
But one other way remaineth 

To escape the fervent tide,. 
Ere the red tongued tyrant grasp them, 

Up the steep set mountain side ; 
But the flame sweeps on before them, 

Bearing terror to their souls, 
For. ad own. the heated, mountain, 

Now the loosened lava rolls. 



36 



And the flame they seek to flee from y 

Licks the ground their feet doth tread',. 
And the fiend their hands did summon,, 

Their bodies now hath fed ; 
Still the flames swept ever onward, 

Surging all that night and day, 
While bevond that city's borders 

Roll the burning clouds away ; 
Till where hung the dark Plague shadow 

Like a pall the day before, 
Hangs the sun a seeming blood spot, 

In a field of deeper gore. 



And every form and substance 

Crumbled 'neath the fiery wave, 
Till the dust of that fair city 

Was in truth the Prophet's grave, 
For that city in its ashes 

Had forever gone to rest. 
Ere the sun in gory brilliance 

Sank adown the bleeding west. 
Moral. — Tis a tale of which the moral 

Forever more should live : 
If God unto you hath given, 

Tis but meet that you should give. 



OTHER POEMS. 



39 



THE LAND BEYOND THE TIDE. 



I am thinking, sadly thinking 
Of life's joyous happy morn ; 
Ere my heart lay mangled, bleeding, 
By its sorrows rudely torn ; 
And my spirit sadly turning 
To those happy days of yore, 
Reads in anguish on their pages, 
Joy on earth, ah, nevermore ! 
And the shadows falling darkly, 
That sweet promise seems to hide, 
Of a happy home immortal 
In the land beyond the tide. 



I am dreaming of the maiden 
With her eyes so deeply blue, 
Looking out a faithful index 
Of the heart within so true, 
Thinking of her heav'nly beauty, 
And her wealth of tresses bright, 



40 



She a picture of an angel; 
In a frame of living light; 
And her form, as in a halo 
Seeming evermore to glide. 
Like an angel sent on mission 
From the land beyond the tide. 



I am thinking of the sunshine 
Which like glory filled my heart, 
And the happiness unbounded 
Seeming of myself a part, 
When the blessed, sweet assurance 
Was by her unto me given, 
Over power of death to triumph, 
Mine on earth, and mine in heaven 
And my spirit backward turning 
Sees us sitting side bv side, 
As we sat, and sang together, 
Of the land beyond the tide. 



Never thought I then of sorrow, 
Never heart more light and free, 
All was heav'n to me on earth then, 
All on earth was heav'n to me; 



41 



She was mine, then, and mine only, 
And I deemed her all my own, 
Oh, sweet dream ! how vain, delusive, 
And the waking, oh how lone ! 
Cruel death my claim ignoring 
Sought and claimed her as his bride, 
And an angel came and bore her 
To the land beyond the tide. 



Then a darkness fell upon me, 
All of love was lost to me; 
And I sank me deeper, deeper, 
In a sea of agony; 

And my soul surcharged with sorrow 
Strove the dreamlike bands to break, 
But alas ! the dream was real, 
And from it I ne'er shall wake 
Till I reach my home immortal 
On the far oif thither side, 
And a spirit claim ni) angel 
In the land beyond the tide, 



But, between my spirit's haven 



42 



And its present chafing cel] y 
Runs forever clown a river 
"With a mighty roll and swells 
And my spirit gazing wistful, 
Up from out its prison bars, 
Sees the home it longs to enter 
Just beyond the twinkling stars; 
And, beyond that mighty river 
Rolling down so dark and wide y 
Faintly shines the terraced glory 
Of the land beyond the tide. 



And, beyond the distant outline 
Of that holy mystic shore, 
Rises up the jeweled city 
Which shall stand forevermore ! 
And the walls of purest jasper, 
Shining 'neath a setless sun, 
Tell in glowing words immortal 
Of a glory just begun; 
And, my spirit wild, rebellious, 
Scarce its destined time can bide. 
Longing so to see the glory 
Of the land beyond the tide. 



43 



But, I feel that soon the angel 
Will return to set me free, 
And I'll journey o'er that river 
To the home prepared for me; 
Though the waves forever surging 
Sweep tumultuous o'er my soul, 
They shall not prevail against me 
As they madly seethe and roll; 
For I know that when I'm sinking. 
I shall see my spirit's bride, 
Reaching down her hand to guide me 
To the land beyond the tide. 



44 



DEATH OF THE OLD YEAR AND BIRTH 

OF THE NEW. 



Mourn ! mourn ! a friend is dead: 

The Old Year is no more; 
Last night his weary spirit fled 

Beyond Time's mystic shore. 

We mind the hour when he was born,, 

A laughing, joyous child; 
He burst upon us at his birth, 

With spirits light and wild. 

We watched his tender, tottering steps- 

Adown the glade of time, 
Till birds in leafy, springtime bowers, 

Their notes of praise did cl ime. 

We watched his firmer youthful steps 
Still strong and stronger grow; 

Until we saw his manhood's crown 
'Neath sun of summer glow. 



45 



We watched his onward' conquering march, 

As time by him was slain; 
But woke, too soon, alas ! to note 

His manhood on the wane. 

He watched him tottering on the verge; 

Then saw him downward turn 
To lay beside his kindred dead 

His ashes iu the urn. 



We watched him down the silv'rv tide; 

His course was nearly run; 
His lab'ring breath came faint and low, 

His weary task was done. 

We watched beside his dying bed 
As sombre death came down; 

We closed his eyes and turned away 
To feel a friend had gone. 

There, in the tomb of ages dead, 
He slept this Sabbath morn ! 

Yet, from his ashes, Phoenix like, 
The glad New Year was born ! 



46 



He comes to us with smiling face, 
"With mirth and laughter gay; 

Then let us hearty welcome give 
On this his natal day. 



The Old Year is dead ! we mourn ! 

We drop the kindred tear; 
Yet, shall we mourn him still, and weep, 

And linger at his bier ? 

Old friends must die ! yet new ones come 

E'en ere we say farewell; 
The same bells chime the New Year's birth, 

That toll the Old Year's knell. 

Then cast all dreary thoughts aside, 

Begin with life anew; 
What if our life a dark side has % 

It has a bright one too ! 

Then hand in hand, we'll forward press, 

All care we'll throw away, 
And cheerful start with life anew 
This joyous New New Year's Day! 
January 1st, 1871. 



47 



WILL YOU MEET ME UP m HEAYEN", 
MOTHEEDEAE? 



Come and sit beside me mother, 
Let me hold jour hand in mine, 
Move your chair a little nearer, 
So the setting sun may shine 
On the hand which I am holding, 
As it falls in through the door, 
For within the golden sunshine] 
I shall never see you more; 
And I want to ask you, mother; 
For I'm going fai from here, 
Tell me truly will you meet me 
Up in heavci mother dear ? 

Will you meet me up in heav'n, mother dear? 
Mother clear ! 

Will you meet me up in heav'n, mother dear? 
Where the angels are singins:, 
And the sweet notes are ringing, 

Will you meet me up in heav'n, mother dear ? 



Eaise me up a little higher 
For the sun is setting fast, 



48 



And I want to see this sunset, 
For I know it is the last 
We shall ever see together, 
For those clouds within the west, 
Reaching far to north and eastward 
In their golden glory dressed, 
Hide the pearly gates of heaven 
Where the angels all have met, 
That are coming down to meet me 
When the golden sun has set; 

As they'll come to you from heaven, 
Mother dear ! Mother clear ! 

If you'll meet me up in heav'n, mother dear? 
Where the angels are singing, 
Aud the sweet notes are ringing, 

Will you meet me up in heav'n, mother dear ? 



See ! the gates are moving inward, 
Now they're standing open wide; 
I can see the crystal river 
And the land the other side; 
And away beyond the hillside 
Far beyond the other shore, 
In a blaze of shining glory 
Trembles heaven's inner door; 



49 



Do not hold me, dearest mother, 

Do not fear that I shall fall, 

For the angels now are with me, 

And I hear my Savior call; 
And I'm going up to heaven, mother dear ! 

Mother dear ! 
There to wait for you in heaven, Mother dear ! 

Where the angels are singing, 

And the sweet notes are ringing, 
Come aud meet me up in heaven, mother dear ! 



50 



Oil WHERE HATE THE EOSES ALL 
GONE? 



I passed by the cottage to-day, Jennie, 

So cherished in mem'ries of you, 
And gazed on the vine covered porch, Jennie,. 

Where each side the sweet roses grew; 
But the roses are faded and gone, Jennie, 

The cottage deserted and lone, 
Oh ! why has it changed so since then, Jennie? 

Oh ! where have the roses all gone? 

In the days fondly cherised by me, Jennie, 

Tour cheeks with the roses were red, 
From the sparkle which dwelt in your eye, 
Jennie, 

All sorrow and sadness had fled; 
But scarce knowing I passed you to-day Jennie, 

Your cheeks were so pale, and so wan, 
Oh ! why have they changed so since then 
Jennie ? 

Oh ! where have the roses all gone? 

A w^and'rer I've been since the eve, Jennie, 
We said our farewell at the gate, 



51 



But often my heart has gone back, Jennie, 
To mourn o'er your sad, sad too late! 

But my wand'rings are over at last, Jennie, 
I'm returning heartbroken and lone, 

And, I sorrow to think I have come, Jennie, 
To find that the roses are gone. 



In reverie often I sit, Jennie, 

While memory, faithful and true 
Bears me back to the days which are gone 
Jennie, 

When thus I sat dreaming with you; 
When with roses the pathway of life, Jennie, 

By fortune w T as lavishly strewn, 
And I only awake from those dreams, Jennie, 

To find that the roses are gone. 

Have the roses ot life proved to you, Jennie, 

As likely to fade and decay 1 
Has the view of the future von drew, Jennie, 

Proved shadow and faded away ? 
My heart goes back to that time, Jennie, 

Through the years that swiftly^have flown, 
And, I cry when I think ot those days, Jennie, 

Oh ! where have the roses all gone ? 



52 



THE NEW LOYE. 



I have loved and been forsaken, 

I have felt my heart awaken, 
Waken, from its dream of fancied love and bliss; 

Now, a love my life is filling, 

All my soul with rapture thrilling. 
For my former love w T as nothing unto this. 



She I love, is free from guile, 
And her artless, winning smile 

Fills me with a love, to me before unknown; 
And I often sit and ponder 
On my life, and sadly wonder, 

Shall I ever call this darling one my own ? 



Though I know she's not a fairy, 

Softly tripping, light and airy, 
Like Camilla, lightly skimming o'er the sea, 

Though I know she's not a Juno, 

Nor a Hebe, yet, I do know, 
She's the fairest of earth's daughters unto me. 



58 



Though the Nightingale when singing, 

Fills the morn with sweet notes ringing, 
Sounding through the summer air so lightly clear; 

Yet his song so sweetly trilled, 

Cannot move my heart once filled 
With a melody to me more sweet and dear. 



In her eyes, the love-light beaming, 

Fills me with a nameless dreaming 
Of the future, and what it may bring to me; 

And a hope is through me thrilling, 

All my soul with rapture iiiling, 
But yet, something whispers, it can never be t 

Oh ! my love should not be hoarded, 

Could there be to me accorded 
Such a boon as mortal never won before. 

Though this hope I fondly cherish, 

Yet, I fear that it will perish, 
And, I think of being friends, and nothing more. 



And my soul in anguish crying, 
Sees its airv castles lying, 
Dashed in ruins, by a single, mighty " NO I" 



54 



And the rays of sunlight cheering, 
In life's sky and disappearing, 
As their place is filled by clouds of life-long woe. 



Oft, I find the tears are falling, 

At the thought, so dear, appalling, 
And I feel already wrecked upon life's shore; 

As the waves which now uphold me, 

Seem u preaching to enfold me. 
With the words forever sounding — Love no more ! 

Yet, take courage heart, I pray ; 

Ever darkest, 'tis, ere day; 
Morning light may break athwart life's sky again ! 

And, my soul may feel the glory 

Of that oft repeated story, 
Loving and beloved: — In truth, and not in vain. 



55 



THE CLOSING OF THE DAY. 



Twilight shadows gather round me, 

'Tis the evening of the day, 
And the thoughts of care which bound me, 

With the sunlight pass away; 
And the holy hour of evening, 

Round me casts it's witching spell, 
As the zephyrs, perfume laden, 

Steal apast me through the dell. 



As I watch the twilight fading, 

Watch the stars as they appear, 
Tims, me thinks, my life is waning, 

And life's evening drawing near; 
And the holy calm of twilight 

Foldeth o'er life's setting sun, 1 
And I murmur not at knowing 

Life's sad, weary day is done. 



56 



DOWN THE AISLES OF TIME. 



Down the Aisles of Time with wistful eye 

We gaze on the scenes of the past, 
And memory glides 'mid the spectral forms 

Of shadow behind us cast; 
And we sorrow to find so much of life 

Lying wasted along the way, 
Made up of the moments heedlessly lost 

Ou our journey, day by day. 



Down the Aisles of Time, where our weary feet 

Leave their prints on the wayside sand, 
We are pressing on in the March of Life 

For none may idle stand; 
Each moment of time is a precious gem 

We should guard whatever the cost: 
Let us watch the jewels so when life shall end 

We can say that none are lost. 

Down the Aisles of Time outstretching afar 
To the future, dark, unknown, 



57 



We strive, with our eyes, to pierce the vail. 

Which God in mercy has thrown 
O'er the trials we'll meet, alas ! full soon, 

For to each is lotted a share, 
Yet be not dismayed for there cometh to none 

Aught more than his strength to bear. 



Down the Aisles of Time still our footsteps tend 

As life's mystery we explore, 
And ere long we shall reach that farther end, 

Leading out to the golden shore; 
And soon, the dark vail will be lifted up 

So the light of our home we may see, 
And soon, we shall pass from the Ailes of Time 

To a grand eternity. 



58 



WHY THE BABY DIED. 



"Why did the baby die? weep not fond mother! 

E'en though thy treasure be gone from thee; 

Thou knowest not from what pain and sorrow 

Thy babe, an angel now, is free. 

But thou did'st love her so? Ah, yes, fond heart * 

E'en with a mother's purest, truest love, 

But though thy love was great, a greater still 

Dwells with the Lord of Heaven above. 

Thy babe was very fair, and sweet, and mild, 

God wanted her to dwell with him, 

To sing hosannas with the angel throng, 

And swell the ranks of cherubim. 

Look round about thee through the earth, and see 

What makes each home so gladly bright, 

Is it not the babes, who fondly twine around 

Each heart, filling them with happy light? 

God took thy babe to wear an angel crown, 

To make his home more bright and fair; 

God sends the babes to gladden earth, 

Yet, earth, her babes with heaven must share; 

For what kind of heaven would heaven be, 

If there were no little angels there ? 



59 



BREAKING THE ENGAGEMENT. 



Dear love ! 'tis just a year, to-day, 

You'll mind, since first I met you> 
That meeting made me for all time 

All poweiless to forget you; 
And, as we grew acquainted more. 

More binding seemed your graces, 
And deep within my heart I found 

Your image leaving traces. 



You mind that eve I told my love, 

I drew you to me nearer, 
You pressed your lips to mine and said 

None to you could be dearer; 
That was a happy hour indeed, 

All earth to me was heaven, 
Oh, precious troth ! from soul to soul, 

By lips, in kisses> given. 



The days on wings of love flew by. 
Long happiness unbroken, 



60 



The bridal day was named by thee> 
Ob, joy to me- when spoken ! 

The day has come; this is the morn; 
Alas a day of mournings 

For oh ! you ask me for release,. 
Thy freedom thus returning. 

Oh, surely, love, you cannot know 

The task you are imposing, 
This is the end of all my joy, 

My future, dark, disclosing; 
But if you'd have me let you go r 

Why I of course must let you; 
And if you wish me to forget, 

Why liang you, Til forget you I 



61 



THE DAWN OF THE NEW LIFE. 



I have waited in the shadow 

While my life tide ebbed away, 
Gazing through the shrouding darkness 

For the dawning of the day; 
Long and dark hath been the night time, 

Long and dark, aye, dark and dreary; 
Ever watching for the dawning, 

Sad and lone, and, oh ! so weary ! 



But the night at last is ended. 

And the vigil now is o'er, 
For the light of life eternal 

Lifts the darkness evermore; 
And the angel of the Morning 

Back the mystic vail is holding, 
And my weary eyes grow brighter 

As the new Ufe is unfolding. 



62 



FROST PICTURES. 



r r 



There are pictures on the window 

Traced in crystal veins; 
Light frosted on the window, 

Frosted on the panes; 
And as I gaze upon them, 

Strange forms by me are seen, 
As if some Fairy spun them 

With waft of silver sheen. 



I see the home of childhood, 

I feel the joys I knew, 
1 wander in the wildwood 

Where scented wild flowers grew; 
And through my heart is thrilling 

A gentle, mystic spell, 
My soul with rapture filling 

Beyond my pow'r to tell. 

I wander in the old lot 

Among the new mown hay, 



63 



I gaze into those blue eyes 
Where lovelight used to play; 

I feel again the sorrow 
I felt when forced to part, 

Alas ! the long to-morrow 
That fell upon my heart. 

And tears are coursing down my cheek 

For joys that's lost to me, 
Joys of which I dare not speak, 

And joys I only see 
In pictures on the window, 

Traced in crystal veins, 
Light frosted on the window, 

Frosted on the panes. 



64 



SUNBEAMS. 



Oft the clouds full dark and drear, 

Shroud the summer day; 
Falling like a sombre pall, 

Drives the light away; 
But the sunshine comes again 

With it's smile of cheer, 
And the little sunbeams dance 

Earthward light and clear. 



So it is all through our life, 

Sorrow's clouds come down, 
Shrouding from our hearts the light, 

Bringing many a frown; 
But, the clouds must sometime break, 

Then perchance will stray, 
Brighter for the storm that's past, 

Sunbeams o'er life's way. 



65 



"'IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND." 



There's a maxim quite old, but yet it is good, 

And one you should keep in your mind; 
It will ease you of many a troublesome thought, 

If you but obey it, you'll find; 
This maxim though old will ever be new, 

And still to the right it will tend; 
I give it to you as I found it myself, 

"It is never too late to mend !" 



Ye Bachelors grim whom folly hath led 

To a singular waste of your life, 
It'll just suit your case I'm sure you'll allow, 

And may help you in getting a wife; 
What matter though you have been jilted inyoutli 

That's a dart Cupid often will send; 
•13o while you bewail, keep this maxim in mind, 

"It is never too late to mend !" 



Ye angular Maids of forty or so 
Pray don't give the battle up yet, 



G6 



There ne'er was a stocking but mated a shoe, 
And doubtless, a husband you'll get; 

For beauty is made, and age you can hide, 
And sense to your smiles you can lend; 

With a scrub, rub and dub, keep this maxim in 
mind, 
"It is never too late to mend I" 

Ye wretches whose hearts are as bard as the flint 

And crusted all over with sin, 
Here's a chance to redeem, don't cast it aside 

But to mend all your ways pray begin; 
There's a chance you'll allow that death may step in 

And bring all 3 our schemes to an end, 
So haste to reform with this maxim in mind, 

"It is never too late to mend !" 

But, not to go over the whole human race 

And string out a mile of advice, 
I'll speak to you all both aged and young 

And give you my mind in a trice; 
(If you will but listen a moment to me 

And to take my advice condescend,) 
And this shall be it, pray keep it in mind, 

"It is never too late to mend !' 



07 



ONLY A LITTLE BRAID. 



Only a little braid ! 

Not a golden tress 

With sunlight beaming o'er 

To claim a wild caress; 

Not a siken curl 

Gracefully falling down, 

Only a little braid, 

Plain, and dark, aud brown. 



Only a little braid ! 
Yet, oh, how dear to me ! 
And oh, w T hat scenes of joy 
It brings to memory ! 
Not all the jeweled wealth 
Within a kingly crown 
Could buy my little braid, 
Plain, and dark, and brown. 



6S 



A LOVER'S GREATEST DISAPPOINT- 
MENT. 



When Adam first in Eden 

Began to live in bliss, 
His happiness was incomplete 

Until he got a Miss; 
But when fair Eye was given 

His happiness was full, 
Yet, o'er his loving, simple eyes 

She soon did draw the wool- 



How pleasant must have passed 

The golden hours, when they 
Among fair Eden's bowers 

Had nought to do but stray; 
And when at eve they wandered forth 

How happy was their fate, 
"With no old folks to grumble 

If they came in too late. 

No doubt, poor, simple Adam 
Was happy as could be. 



69 



I know just how lie must have felt, 

It once was so with me; 
But ah ! poor, trusting lover, 

Though centuries have flown, 
My heart goes back in pity, for 

His case was just my own. 



He went on eve to see her, 

I'm sure 'twas Sunday eve, 
And asked her out to take a walk, 

Alas ! for him I grieve; 
For, while he sat beside her 

Engaged in loving talk, 
Old l^iek himself came smiling up 

And took her out to walk. 



With what a jealous anger 

His bosom must have filled, 
When, to use a homely saying, 

He found his milk was spilled; 
How heavy must have been his heart 

As homeward he did go, 
Oh ! Adam I can pity you, 

For I have felt just so I 



70 



And ever since that evening, 

A Sunday eve I'm sure; 
The deepest woe, the sharpest pang 

That mortal can endure, 
Is when he's sitting by his love, 

Engaged in loving talk, 
To have some other fellow come 

And take her out to walk. 



71 



A NOVEMBER STORM. 



Hear how the wild tempest wails, 

And fierce assails 
The firm-set walls, and loudly calls, 
As if to alarm 

Us, safe from harm. 



How it madly rushes past, 

Blast, after blast; 
"With sigh and moan, and shriek and groan, 
How the sorrow swells 

It never tells. 



Creej} close to the sparkling fire. 

That leaps up higher 
With wild delight this dismal night, 

As if 'twould engage 

The Storm King's rage. 



72 



Now let the fierce tempest whirl ! 

And madly hurl 
Its blinding darts at weaker parts, 

"We're housed safely here., 
We have no fear. 



Wail out vour sad sorrow winds, 

That seeks, but finds 
No place of rest, no haven blest 

Where you may alight 

This dreary night! 



Pour now on each rattling pane, 

Oh ceaseless rain; 

While storm imps leap, and revel keep, 

On each shrinking sash 
Your torrents dash ! 



Hark!— was that human cry? 

A moan, or sigh, 
23orne on the air in wild despair 

From some sinking form 

Out in the storm I 



73 



Hush ! — it may come again, 

Let silence reign ! 

No! — not again, the thought was vain, 

'Twas the tempest's shriek, 
Or fancy's freak. 



List ! the rain has ceased to pour; 

The winds no more 
Their revels hold, but lie controlled 

By the Master's will, 

That "Peace, be still" 



74 



LIFE'S HILL. ' 



To the bill! to the hill! 
To the hill together ! 
Hearts all joyous, light and free 
In life's Spring-time weather ; 
Fiery Youth with footsteps light, 
To the hillside tending, 
Eager to be on the way, 
Eager for ascending. 



Up the hill ! up the hill ! 
Up the hill ! together! 
Manhood, every care surmounts 
In life's Summer weather; 
Faith sublime, and steadfast will, 
Iu bright rapture blending, 
Hand in hand, and heart to heart, 
Each other firm defending. 

Down the hill ! down the hill ! 
Down the hill together ! 



75 



Hand in hand to reach the foot, 
In life's Autumn weather; 
Weary of the toil and care, 
5 ]STeath the years now bending, 
Dreaming dreams of happy youth. 
On the way descending. 

From the hill ! from the hill ! 
From the hill together ! 
Faded now youth's visions bright, 
In life's Winter weather; 
Feeble Age with step infirm 
From the hillside tending, 
Seeking only in the vale, 
Rest when life is ending. 



76 



YOU'LL EVEK BE YOUNG TO ME I 



You have asked if I'll ever be true, 

If my heart will never change, 
If I'll ever be leal to you 

As through the world we range; 
You say that age will furrow thy brow, 

That your step will feeble grow, 
But to me you'll be just the same as now, 

No change in thee I'll know, 

For you'll ever be young to me, darling,. 

You'll ever be young to me; 
Though age may furrow thy brow, 

And thy step may feeble grow, 

No change in thee I'll know 
But ever the same as now, 

For you'll ever be young to me, darling r 

You'll ever be young to me. 



You fear that I will inconstant prove, 
That my words are false and vain, 
That in after years you'll lose my love. 



77 



That my heart you'll not retain; 
But though age may turn to silv'ry white 

Rippling waves of beauteous gold, 
And your eyes may lose their lustre bright 

And friends may call you old, 

Still you'll ever be young to me, darling. 

You'll ever be young to me; 
Though age may furrow thy brow, 

And change the rippling gold, 

To me you'll not grow old 
But ever the same as now, 

For you'll ever be young to me, darling, 

You'll ever be young to me. 



And as we journey along through life 

Mid the thoughts of "Auld lang Syne," 
We'll lover like clasp our hands my wife, 

On the verge of life's decline; 
Then shed no tears for the future years, 

You'll ever be young to me, 
And be not troubled by idle fears, 

I'll ever be true to thee, 

For you'll ever be young to ine,darling, 



78 



You'll ever be young to me; 
Though age may furrow thy brow, 

And thy step may feeble grow, 

~No change in thee I'll know 
But ever the same as now., 

For you'll ever be young to me, darling, 

You'll ever be young to me. 



79 



DEAEER TO ME. 



Oil ! the sailor may tell of the wealth to be found 

In the depths of the ocean vast, 
Of the coral and pearl that shine on the shore 

When the storm and tempest are past; 
But the sparkling gems that tremble in light, 

May lie in their native sea, 
For a glance from the eves of the one I love 

Is dearer by far to me ! 



Oh ! the sages may tell of the wealth to be found 

In the pages of ancient lore, 
Of the glorious feast of prose and of rhyme 

As they con their volumes o'er; 
But the wealth that lies hid in the old time script, 

~No matter how rich it may be, 
Cannot equal one word from the lips I love, 

That's dearer by far to me ! 

Oh ! the miser may count o'er his hoarded gains, 
And gloat o'er his golden store, 



80 



And gather his wealth with a trembling hand 

From every clime and shore; 
But the golden gleam that hardens his heart, 

He is welcome to keep, and free; 
For a beaming smile, from the one I love, 

Is dearer by far to me ! 



Oh ! Princes may tell of their gorgeous courts, 

Of their palaces, grand and high, 
Of their gardens and parks, outstretching afar, 

So pleasing to royal eye; 
But their palaces grand, their fields and parks, 

I care not to have, nor see; 
For a simple cot with the one I love, 

Is dearer bv far to me ! 



131 



LAMENT OF THE SAILOE'S BEIDE. 



On this lone sea shore, 

Where the wild waves roar, 
And dash up their beaten spray, 

Here I sit forlorn, 

From the early morn 
Till the close of each weary day; 

Here I wait and weep, 

And my lone watch keep, 
While the waves in their bounding glee 

Chant a wild refrain, 

As I watch in vain 
For a form that is lost to me. 



For beyond the wave, 

In his island grave, 
Where the wild floweis a bower have made; 

There he sleeps alone 

In the grave unknown, 
Wliere his messmates their comrade laid ; 






82 



And recks not that I 

Ever sit and sigh, 
Looking out from this lone sea shore, 

Keeping watch in vain 

O'er the mighty main, 
For a form that will come no more. 



83 



O'ER BEYOND THE SHINING RIVER. 



O'er beyond the Shining River, 
There the angels sweetly sing; 
And the souls immortal quiver 
With the melodies that ring; 

Ever singing, 

Gently ringing, 
Angels chant their sweetest lays, 
Of a Lord and Saviour risen, 
Ceaseless songs of endless praise. 



O'er the river, safely anchored 
On that bright and golden shore, 
There the good and blessed are singing 
Praise to God forevermore; 

Weary mortals 

Through the portals 
Press to join the joyful throng, 
As the friends who went before them 
Gladly beckon them along. 



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See the- countless number swelling,. 
Coming from the world below; 
See the beams of heavenly sunlight 
Make the waters brighter glow ; 

There gloomy fears 

And sorrow's tears 
Shall ne'er again be known, 
Nought but joy and gladness ever 
Shall be felt in that bright home. 



Surely death is not so dreary, 
If the hope we only cherish 
That the toil worn souls so weary 
Though in death can never perish; 

But shall gain 

For every pain 
A glorious recompense, far more 
Than enough to pay the toiling 
When they reach that Golden Shore, 



85 



YES, OR KO? 



Dearest love ! if when the sun 
His diurnal course had run, 
And the evening had begun 

After summer's sunny glow; 
When through all the golden west, 
Fleecv clouds in amber dressed, 
Soft proclaimed the hour of rest 

To the night advancing slow; 
Should I in the witching gloam, 
From thy woodland cottage home, 
Ask thee lovingly to roam, 

Would tt thou answer yes, or no? 

Did you thus consent to stray 
In the pleasant twilight grey, 
At the closing of the day, 

With the moon uprising slow; 
And, if by thy prescence blessed, 
Wild, entrancingly I pressed 
To my heart, and fond, caressed 

Thy sweet form, my love to show; 



86 



If upon a time like this, 

In an ecstacy of bliss, 

I should ask thee for a kiss, 

Wouldst thou answer yes, or no ? 



Still, if lovingly we strayed 
In the pleasant sylvan shade, 
Where the boughs dependent swayed, 

Gently sighing, soft and low; 
Or if in the silv'ry beam, 
In a wild, ecstatic dream, 
All the world to me did seem 

Centered in thy w r eal or woe; 
When my arm did round thee twine, 
With my hand enclasping thine, 
Should I ask thee to be mine. 

Wouldst thou answer yes, or no? 



87 



LOVE— SCORN"— DESPAIR. 



Love — 

Evening star appearing 
As thou seemest nearing, 
Hast thou aught endearing? 

Hast thou aught for me ? 
Gentle zephyr winging. 
Love tuned anthems singing 
Tell me, art thou bringing 

Aught that's dear to me? 
River, ne'er returning, 
With thy voice of mourning, 
Tell me, art thou scorning 

While I ask of thee ? 
Ever onward flowing, 
Whence and where no knowing, 
Hast thou heart for showing 

Pity unto me ? 

Scorn — 

At the morning's waking, 
When the day was breaking 



88 



Came no maiden making 

Thee her page to me ? 
"When the sun was soaring, 
Hour of noontide scoring, 
Sent she nought restoring 

To my soul by thee ? 
"When the daj was waning, 
And the night was gaining, 
Was no word sustaining 

Sent from her to me ? 
Was no token given? 
Have I vai'ily striven ? 
Must my soul be driven 

On in agony ? 

Despair — 

Ah ! thy mournful moaning 
Is all hope dethroning, 
As the deep detoning 

Onward rolls from me ; 
She hath sent but scorning 
To my words love burning, 
River, ne'er returning, 

Bear me on with thee ! 
Heart, thy wormwood drinking, 



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Why this coward shrinking 
From the slight unlinking ? 

What is life to me ? 
From her bitter scorning, 
With my useless mourning, 
River, ne'er returning, 

Thus I go — with thee ! 



90 



ON THE RIVER. 



On a river where the sunshine 
'Mong the silver ripples played, 
And the flower scented zephyrs 
Fitful, wild and witching played, 
By the breezes gently wafted, 
Sailed a comely youth and maid: 

Spake no word, but sailing there, 
Built their castles in the air. 



He, the lover, manly, noble, 

She, his idol, sweetly fair; 

They, both listless, idle dreamers; 

But no threads of wordly care 

Wove they with the golden texture 

Of their castles in the air, 

As they sailed that summer day, 
Only youthful dreamers they. 



But the lover gazing fondly 
On the maiden by his side 



<H 



Whispers words of love endearing, 
As they gently, onward glide; 
Pouring out heart's fondest treasures, 
Seeking nought from her to hide. 

Love light o'er his features stealing, 
All his wealth of love revealing. ^ 



Thus he spoke, his love outpouring, 
*' On the river of our life, 
In the sunshine, in the shadow, 
In life's elemental strife, 
Whether joyous all our journey, 
Or with storm clouds it be rife, 
All thy gladness let me share, 
Allthv sorrows let me bear." 



"Ere I answer," said the maiden, 

"One small favor I implore, 

As we're drifting idly onward, 

Scarcely moving from the shore; 

This I ask: your patience craving, 

Teach me how to pull an oar ! 
Nothing losing, I may gain, 
Though the wish may seem but vain." 



92 



To this wish so strangely seeming 
He sought not to answer nay, 
But the oar still holding firmly, 
Tought her how, and show T ed the way, 
Rowing onward down the river 
On that sunlit summer day; 
Til), at even's golden glow, 
She herself the boat might row. 



Then, the maiden smiling sweetly, 
Thus her answ T er to him gave: 
'*On the river of our life, love, 
Fortune kissing every wave, 
Trust and teach me in the sunshine 
How to act when storms shall rave; 

Then, when wild winds beat the shore, 
I, perchance, may pull an oar 1" 



9 



g 



THE MUSIC OF THE HEAKT, 



In each heart there ever vibrates 

To each voice a tuneful chord, 
And there sounds the sweetest music, 

Trilled by ever loving word; 
Like the harp, each separate chordlet 

Has its own peculiar range. 
And each word, as it is graded, 

Makes the music's tuneful change. 

Sometimes there arise discords, 

"When the chords of love are crossed 
By a voice that's toned in anger, 

And love's melody is lost, 
As the heart strings, dumb and tuneless, 

Yibrate voiceless to and fro, 
And the cadence dies to silence 

While the tear's notes noiseless flow. 



But the sweetest, purest music 

Which the heart chords evei sound , 



94 



And in which all other love notes 
Die away in sweetness drowned, 

Is the chord that's touched in kindness 
By the dearest love of life, 

And the power to trill that chordlet 
Is but given to a Wife. 

Other voices may be gifted 

With a sweet melodeous tone, 
But their notes may be forgotten 

And become to us unknown. 
While that silver, silken chordlet 

Thrills forever all through life, 
Wnen one word, in love tones given, 

Falls upon it from a Wife. 



95 



LIFE'S WARP AND WOOF. 



Our life is a gorgeous tapestry. 

And we weave it day by day; 
And the threads will run 
And the form be spun 

Let us weave it as we may. 



Each coming joy is a golden thread 
And we merrily pass it through; 
And we watch it shine 
As we gladly twine 
The golden glor} true. 



But a sorrow comes and our aching hearts 
Beat slow as we weave it in; 
And we will not know 
That our earthly woe 
Makes brigther the crowns we win, 



96 



But we only see the earthly warp, 
God from us the woof doth hide, 
And where shadows lie 
To our earthly eye 
It is light on the other side. 



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THE HEART'S ANGUISH. 



I have wandered long and lonely, 
Dreaming of the time when only 
Xove and gladness filled my heart, 

Filled my heart with brightest joy; 
When no thought of woe corroding, 
All my life was downward loading 
With an undefined foreboding 

Of the cankerous alloy 
Which the world at large was filling, 
Hopes and joys, forever killing, 
As a demon grim distilling 

All the essences of woe, 
Poured his murd'rous, vap'rous potions, 
Making hellish dark commotions 

In the inmost soul of man, 
Till he curses all his being, 

Curses heav'ns mighty plan 

O'er each pain extorted throe. 



Oh ! those mem'ries ever falling 
On my heart still keep recalling 



98 



All on earth I bad to love, 

All on earth I loved and lost ! 
And, my anguished heart still throbbing, 
Ever throbbing, dullv throbbing, 
Seems the torture racked sobbing 
Of a soul all tempest tossed; 
And my spirit in its groaning. 
Still is moaning, ever moaning, 
Every hope of jo- dethroning, 
Sinking deeper in its woe; 
All the awful horror drinking, 
All the past and present linking 

In a horrible design, 
Gloats in frenzy o'er the picture, 
O'er the picture that is mine, 
And, that only I may know. 



Oh ! the deep and mighty anguish 
Wherein now my soul doth languish ! 
With no ray of happiness, 

With no hope forevermore; 
And, despaii now falling round me, 
In its endless chain hath bound me, 
While the demon still doth wound me 



To my heart's deep inmost core. 
Oh, the deep abyss appalling, 
Into which my soul is falling, 
Where the loathsome vipers crawling 

Deep, and deeper make my woe ! 
And, my soul in horror starting 
From the baleful glances darting 

Through each lava-flooded vein, 
Strives to mount from out the horror, 

Striving, but to fall again, 

While the fiends their thriumph show. 



Oh, ye fiends in triumph yelling ! 
On my heart your vict'ry knelling, 
In your wild demoniac glee 

Tearing at my heart-strings sore; 
With your fiery glances flashing, 
All my soul with torture lashing, 
Like a whip of scorpions gashing. 

Gashing, deeper, more and more; 
Oh, ye demons hear my moaning ! 
Hear my horror haunted groaning ! 
With a might) deep detoning 

Of a mournful, ceaseless woe: 



200 



See my hands to you outreach ing 
In a frantic wild beseeching. 

Hear the pray'rs I madly pour I 
Some respite from this mad torture? 

Grant me, grant me I implore ! 

To my soul some mercy show I 



Oh, ye hellish fiends ungranting ! 
In your demon glory panting, 
I have sued to you for nought, 

Supplicated you in vain; 
For, your breasts with rapture swellings 
Feel a glory in thus kneeling 
Doom, unto my ear thus telling 

All its agony and pain; 
Oh, ye fiends of hell infernal ! 
With your pow'r almost supernal. 
Reaching through all time eternal, 

Here I mock you with my woe I 
Here I tear my soul asunder, 
Tell to you in tones of thunder 

I defy you ! — This I tell, 
While the mighty tones resounding 



101 



Shout defiance thro' all hell, 
Which to you in scorn I throw. 



Now, the waves of hell outpouring 
O'er my soul are madly roaring, 
And they seethe, and roll, and roar. 

With a mighty monotone ! 
And each word from hence ascending, 
From my heart now stricken, bending, 
'Neath its load for life unending 

Can be nothing but. a groan; 
And this awful deep desparing, 
And this fiery torture tearing, 
At my soul forever wearing 

Its unchanging mantle, — woe 
Forces from my heart wild beating, 
This one angusihed cry repeating 

Up to heaven, down to hell; 
Shall eternity but be 

To my heart a fun'ral knell, 

Shall I never mere) know ! 

Oh, thou God above, all seeing I 
Oh, thou Author of my being I 



102 



Hear my supplicating moan, 

Hear my wild despairing cry ! 
At thy throne in suppliance kneeling, 
All my heart to Thee revealing, 
Hear my frantic, wild appealing, 

Save me, Maker, or I die ! 
All my wrongs to Thee now bringing, 
And to Thee now only clinging, 
While the angels, ever winging, 

Bear aloft my weight of woe, 
Up, from out my dark surrounding, 
From the darts my heart still wounding. 

Lift me, lift me I imj^lore ! 
Up from out the hadean darkness. 

Lift my soul forevermore ! 

And thy mercy to me show ! 



"What ? — my weary burden lightens, 
And my darkened spirit brightens, 
Hast thou heard me, oh, Jehovah ! 

Hast thou heard my soul worn cry ? 
Yes ! I see thy mercy bending, 
Like a halo bright descending 
From a love that knows no ending. 



103 



From its fountain head on high; 
And my spirit upward bounding, 
Up, from out its dark surrounding, 
Song of praise to Thee is sou-id ing 

As it mounts from out its woe. 
And my praises up ascending, 
Shall from henceforth know no ending, 

But eternally shall sound 
One continuous mighty anthem 

For this peace unending found, 

Which now o'er my soul doth flow. 



ISTow, and o'er my senses stealing, 
Comes that gentle calm revealing 
Of a heaven given peace, 

Of a peace fore verm ore; 
And my soul its sweet rest gaining, 
And the heav'n nectar draining, 
Sees its mighty anguish waning 

And its praise it doth outpour; 
And the heaven ever nearing 
Sendeth forth its sunlight cheering, 
And my sorrow disappearing 

Leaves no semblance of the woe 



104 



That hath now no power o'er me, 

For within the land before me 
There can enter no alloy, 

To be mingled with the glory 

Of that pure and endless joy, 

Which my soul shall henceforth know. 



THE END. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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